We had a consult with the pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist yesterday. The pediatric portion of my field is SO cool… I just don’t know enough about it! Give me an adult and I can talk knowledgably about their swallow. Show me my adorable children, and I forget all my training 🙂 She was great and had some really great suggestions for how to help Marissa get through her whole meal! I tried them and they worked, so I feel much better that she is getting enough food and that I can help her if she isn’t. She had great suggestions for Zach too, because our two kids eat in very different patterns. Unfortunately, our little Zach needs one more procedure. After his crappy day a few days ago, I talked with him about how strong they have both been and how he doesn’t need to work so hard to handle so much anymore even though I know he can, because we’re giving him a break for awhile. Then this. He needs a very common procedure to snip the lingual frenum (the little tendon under your tongue if you point your tongue up and out of the way that connects it to the floor of your mouth) so that he can stick his tongue out just a touch farther and have more mobility. After all he has been through, it was just another thing to put him through! When do they get to just be babies, you know? We prayed to know if this is even wise for him right now because if he is sore, it will damage all his good progress on eating! It happened today and went fine and he was a champion. I am so amazed by our kids! They have been through so much during these 9 days, especially if you look at their pictures from the early days. Marissa is so tiny, but she is a little star at eating even though it tires her right out. And Zach has made new progress on something every time I see him, from eating more and more to healing to giving himself the hiccups less while he eats! He just keeps cranking along even though terrible things keep happening to him. And they are benefitting from being together… I’m SO glad they have each other there! Marissa can’t eat when Zach is crying because she pays attention to him instead and starts up again only once he feels better.  And he is completely aware of whether she is nearby. She cries so rarely, but he furrows his little brow everytime she does and snuggles closer to her. Then they try to eat each other and it’s adorable to see them explore! We Olsons eat ice cream on crappy days, and I promised them some retroactive ice cream payment as soon as they can enjoy it for all this crappy stuff they have been put through.

In more fun news, we are thrilled to have the privilege of “acquired” good culture via our great relatives! Matt’s sister, Alana, lives in Scotland with her husband Neil. I have to show you the pictures of these gifts that came in the mail for Zach and Marissa. You have already seen the super-cool baby Jayne hats they sent, but Alana crocheted these beautiful sweaters herself and then the Scottish items speak for themselves in cuteness!

Enjoy!